Seniesa Estrada enjoyed every second of her long-awaited return to the ring Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The undefeated Estrada relentlessly threw punches at Jazmin Gala Villarino and fended off the aggressive Argentinean contender in their 105-pound title fight at Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Concert Theater. Judges Max DeLuca, Chris Migliore and Patricia Morse Jarman all scored it a shutout, 100-90, for East Los Angeles’ Estrada (23-0, 9 KOs), who won a unanimous decision and retained her WBA minimumweight championship.
Buenos Aires’ Villarino (6-2-2, 1 KO) lost for the first time since her four-round pro debut by majority decision in November 2016.
The 30-year-old Estrada ended a lengthy layoff that lasted almost 11 months. She was signed to a multi-year promotional deal by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. in July after a contractual dispute resulted in a split with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Estrada was in complete command by the 10th and final round Saturday night, but that didn’t stop Villarino from pressing forward and landing her fair share of power shots during the final two minutes of action. Estrada had built an insurmountable lead through nine rounds, though, and Villarino clearly couldn’t affect the defending champion with any of her punches.
Estrada caught Villarino with a right uppercut and then a left-right combination with just over 1:10 remaining in the eighth round. Backed against the ropes later in the eighth round, Estrada connected with a left-right combination up top after drilling Villarino with a right to her body.
Estrada stunned Villarino with a left hook when there was just under a minute to go in the seventh round. Out of a southpaw stance, Estrada quickly landed a right uppercut just after the midway mark of the sixth round.
A right-left combination by Estrada stopped Villarino in her tracks with 25 seconds remaining in the fifth round.
Villarino’s overhand right landed flush with 1:15 to go in the fifth round. Estrada drilled Villarino with a hard right to the body barely 30 seconds into the fifth round.
Villarino pressed the action throughout the fourth round, but Estrada effectively went after her opponent’s body and head. Estrada’s left hand backed up Villarino with just under a minute on the clock in the fourth round.
Estrada’s left hook connected up top with just over 45 seconds remaining in the second round, when she consistently went after Villarino’s body. Estrada landed a right-left combination to the body less than 15 seconds into the second round.
Estrada landed a left-right combination with just over 20 seconds to go in the first round. With about 50 seconds on the clock in the opening round, Estrada connected with a right hand.
Barely 30 seconds into their fight, Estrada landed a right to Villarino’s body.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.